Intel Core i9-9960X vs Intel Core i9-10980XE

Processor comparisons 17-03-2021

   For example you are thinking about choosing a processor, you will be able to make a decision by looking at the Intel Core i9-9960X vs Intel Core i9-10980XE tests and see which is better for games or normal use for streaming, video editing, rendering, machine learning, programming. Here you can find useful information from several benchmarks or real video editing and streaming tests. A careful analysis of all the specifications, to make it easier to understand, is summarized in the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of joint testing in software tests like SuperPi, RealBench, WPrime, 3DMark, MATLAB, Prime95, UserBenchmark, PassMark, Blender, PCMark 10, Handbrake, DaVinci Resolve Studio, World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), VeraCrypt, Dolphin Emulator, Gears 5, AIDA64, GeekBench 6, 5.2, Blender, Furmark, 7zip.
   Gaming performance of CPUs in:

Watch Dogs Legion
Red Dead Redemption 2
Overwatch
Rainbow Six Siege
Cyberpunk 2077
Borderlands 3
Valheim
Last Man Standing
DOOM: Eternal
Valorant
Call of Duty: Warzone and Modern Warfare
Halo Infinite
Death Stranding
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands
Fortnite
Fallout 76
Grand Theft Auto V
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
Apex Legends

After reading the results of joint benchmarks and videos, you already be able to understand which processor is better to buy for gaming Intel Core i9-10980XE or Intel Core i9-9960X.

Summary benchmark results

As a percentage of the maximum value based on a sample from the entire base of all processors
Processor Benchmark

Core i9-9960X

59%

Core i9-10980XE

60%

This parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, Core i9-10980XE is 1% better than Core i9-9960X. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

Core i9-9960X

60%

Core i9-10980XE

61%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor currently available. And of course, this is a server processor, on which no one will play games. Because this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. And if it seems to you that the selected CPU has a low game result, just look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the final table below.
List of other games in which processors were compared: Forza Horizon 4, League of Legends (LOL), PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Monster Hunter World, DOTA 2A, Control, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Hitman 3, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Half-Life: Alyx, Battlefield V, NBA 2K20, Horizon Zero Dawn, Metro Exodus, Ghostrunner, Microsoft Flight Simulator.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	106.4	108.7
Valorant	120.9	123.5
Cyberpunk 2077	67.7	69.2
Apex Legends	113.6	116.1
Call of Duty Warzone	90.7	92.6
Overwatch	97.9	100.0
Red Dead Redemption 2	83.4	85.2
DOOM Eternal	60.5	61.8
Warzone	94.3	96.3
Assassin's Creed	101.6	103.7
Valheim	100.3	102.5

The numbers in this table indicate the maximum FPS that was received on the device with the corresponding processor. Depending on the configuration of the computer (RAM size and Video Card) and graphics quality settings (Ultra, Medium, Normal), the results may differ quite significantly. We recommend that you better study the results of the Cinebench, GeekBench and Passmark becnmarks.
The computers that were in the comparisons not only did they have different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 2K, FullHD or 4K. Therefore, the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. You will get more accurate information about how powerful the processor will be in games, if you compare it in one assembly with the video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

Core i9-9960X

24%

Core i9-10980XE

28%

To make a finishing choice on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. It is clear that the newer the generation, the better the performance of the processor in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the Core i9-10980XE is more energy efficient than the Core i9-9960X since it has less power consumption: 165W vs. 165W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, you must know its TDP. It is necessary to count so that the TDP data specified in the cooler specification is greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

If you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for programming, video rendering or video editing, machine learning, streaming, then first of all you need to pay attention to the performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the processor turns on all cores and threads that it has to the maximum to achieve maximum performance. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account the data from these tests, be sure to make sure that the program that you are going to use on your computer can work in multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that use only one core to work, and all the advantages of multi-core mode are unused.

Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	Intel Core i9-9960X	Intel Core i9-10980XE
Cinbench 15 Single-core	200	211
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2872	3800
Cinbench 20 Single-core	457	480
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	6671	8848
Cinbench 23 Single-core	1086	1191
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	22943	24309

Passmark
This popular benchmark displays Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i9-9960X	Intel Core i9-10980XE
Single-Core	2684	2626
Multi-Core	30816	34005

GeekBench 6, 5.2
This benchmark shows Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Intel Core i9-9960X	Intel Core i9-10980XE
Single-Core	1230	1417
Multi-Core	18032	20280

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the processor release date and overclocking capability will be the most useful. The later the processor is released, the longer it will last in your computer. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system in the future. The same can be said about overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, increasing its performance, then it will still be able to produce maximum FPS even in the newest games. It turns out that there is no longer a need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The economy are obvious!

	Intel Core i9-9960X	Intel Core i9-10980XE
Announcement date	January 01, 2019	October 01, 2019
Type	Desktop	Desktop
Socket	FCLGA2066	FCLGA2066
Core name	Skylake	Cascade Lake
Architecture	x86	x86
Generation	9	10
Turbo Frequency	4.4 MHz	4.8 MHz
Frequency	3.1 MHz	3 MHz
Cores	16	18
Threads	32	36
Bus rate	8 GT/s	8 GT/s DMI3
Bit	64	64
Lithography	14 nm	14 nm
Transistors count	8600 millions	9200 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	165 W	165 W
Memory type	DDR4-2666	DDR4-2933
Max. Memory	128 Gb	256 Gb
Memory Frequency
Memory bandwidth	85 GB/s	94 GB/s
L1 cache
L2 cache
L3 cache	22 MB	24.75 MB
Overclocking	Yes	Yes
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Core i9-9960X is 3% better than Core i9-10980XE in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that Core i9-10980XE has 2 more core than Core i9-9960X. Also keep in mind that high CPU frequency affects battery life through power consumption (relevant for laptops).

Result:
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-9960X is better: 2
The number of parameters for which Intel Core i9-10980XE is better: 30
However, it should be understood that all the data in the table above do not mean that you should be guided entirely by them and trust a simple comparison of these figures. Be sure to watch benchmarks video and read the opinion of real owners of Intel Core i9-9960X and Intel Core i9-10980XE before deciding which of the CPUs to buy for gaming.

• Intel Core i9-9960X specs and review.

• Intel Core i9-10980XE specs and review.